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“Marcus,” I said, my tone ice-cold. “Didn’t realize you ran in these circles.”
He chuckled, glancing over his shoulder at Richard’s retreating form.
“I like to keep my options open. Networking, you know how it is,” Marcus said with a shrug.
“Networking?” I repeated, the word tasting bitter on my tongue. “Seems more like lurking to me.”
His shrugged, and he leaned in slightly, lowering his voice. “You always did have a way with words. But let’s not make a scene. Wouldn’t want your reputation to suffer, would we?”
My fists clenched at my sides, but I forced myself to stay calm. Giving him a reaction was exactly what he wanted.
“Cut the crap, Marcus,” I said, my voice low and lethal. “What are you doing here?”
He shrugged, feigning innocence.
“Just making connections. Surely, a man like you can appreciate that,” Marcus said.
My gaze hardened.
“Stay away from Tori. Whatever game you’re playing, it ends here,” I told him.
Marcus’s expression darkened slightly, but he quickly masked it with a mockery of concern.
“Tori? Is she here? I had no idea,” Marcus said with a shrug.
“Don’t insult my intelligence,” I snapped, my voice sharp enough to cut glass.
He tilted his head, studying me with a maddening calm.
“You’re awfully protective of her. That’s sweet. But you should know, Tori and I have a long history. Sometimes, the past has a way of coming back,” Marcus said.
My blood boiled at the thinly veiled threat, but I refused to give him the satisfaction of seeing me lose control.
“The past is exactly where you belong, Marcus. Don’t forget that,” I told him.
His smile was still in place, but there was a flicker of something else in his eyes—something darker.
At that moment, all I wanted to do was punch his lights out. It took everything to hold back. To remain calm.
“You’re a confident man, Cole. I’ll give you that. But when confident men fall, well, that’s always delicious to watch.”
Before I could respond, he turned and walked away, disappearing back into the crowd like a shadow slipping into the night.
I stood there for a moment, my fists clenched, my jaw tight.
The urge to follow him and put an end to this once and for all was overwhelming, but I knew that wouldn’t solve anything.
Marcus thrived on chaos, and I wouldn’t play his game.
When I returned to Tori, she was standing where I’d left her, her expression a mixture of worry and determination.
“What did he say?” she asked, her voice trembling slightly.
“Nothing important,” I said, though the lie felt heavy on my tongue.
She didn’t believe me, of course. “Cole…”
I sighed, running a hand through my hair.